Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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184. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the microchipping of dogs; if the legislation in this regard is being enforced; and the number of warnings and or summonses issued in this regard. [10086/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Microchipping of dogs regulations were made under the Animal Health & Welfare Act, 2013 and therefore can be enforced by any authorised officer under that Act. This includes officers of my Department, An Gardaí Siochana, dog wardens, members of the local authority veterinary service, Customs agents and officers of the ISPCA and DSPCA. As a result there is no centralised reporting or record keeping of enforcement action taken. Evidence available points to a high level of compliance with microchipping of dogs within the country.

Enforcement efforts to date under the Act have generally focused on cases which have come to the attention of authorised officers where there is neglect or recklessness regarding animal health and welfare of animals and incidence of animal cruelty.

A further effective approach in terms of microchipping enforcement has been to focus on occasions and locations where dogs are being exported - as evidenced by the on-going spot checks conducted at Dublin Port.